Manufacture of vulcanized fiber and like material



(NoModeL) P. TAYLOR.

MANUFACTURE OF VULGANIZED FIBERAND LIKE MATERIAL. No. 350,401. Patented Oct. 5, 1886.

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'UNITED, ST TES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANKLIN TAYLOR, OFWVILMINGTON, DELAWARE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 350,401, dated October 5, 1886.

Application filed May 1, 1886. Serial No. 200,818. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANKLIN TAYLOR, of Wilmington, Delaware, have invented certain Improvements in the Manufacture of Vulcanized Fiber and Like Material, of which the following is a specification.

Heretofore in the manufacture of vulcanized fiber the general plan has been to form the fiber upon a rigid cylinder or mold. The method of procedure is well understood by those skilled in the art, and description here is unnecessary. There are, however, certain disadvantages in the manufacture of vulcanized fiber in this manner, especially when it is desired to produce thin sheets of uniform thickness throughout and having an even surface. In employing the usual method the vulcanized fiber, after having been formed around a rigid cylinder, is cut longitudinally with the cylinder and removed in the form of a sheet. In the subsequent treatment and washing and drying ofthe fiber it is liable to warp,wrinkle, and buckle in such a manner that it is often impossible to flatten and straighten out such sheets, so that they can be used for the purpose designed. In the practice of my invent-ion the fiber is formed under a proper pressure,

'as usual, in a'compact body around a collapsible mold or cylinder, and then the cylinder is collapsed, so that the fiber may readily be removed in an endless sheet or tube, in which form it is subjected to the usual washing process for removing the chloride of zinc. It is then stretched and dried upon a former,which may also be an adjustable or collapsible one, then cut into sheets of the proper size. Such sheets, when made according to my invention,

- will be compact, smooth, and even,.and entirely free from any wrinkles or imperfections.

Any suitable collapsible cylinder ormold may be used. I have shown in the drawings one form of collapsible cylinder which may be employed. The details of construction are, however, immaterial.

Figure l is an elevation, and Fig.2 an end view.

The cylinder is provided with one or more radially-moving sections, A, which are held in their extended position by a shaft or pin, B. When the fiber has been properly formed upon the cylinder, the shaft or pin is withdrawn until it clears the sliding section A, which will then drop by its own weight. The endless band of fiber may then be removed and treated as above described.

I claim as my invention 1. The herein described method of manufacturing sheets of vulcanized fiber, which consists in forming the fiber upon a mold orcylinder, then collapsing said mold or cylinder in order to loosen the fiber thereon, and then removing the fiber and subjecting it to the finishing operation.

2. The herein-described method of manufacturing vulcanized fiber, which consists in forming the fiber upon a mold or cylinder, removing the fiber therefrom in the form of an endless tube, subjecting such tube to the finishing operation or operations, then drying it upon a suitable former, and then cutting it so as to form a fiat sheet or sheets.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name.

FRANKLIN TAYLOR.

Witnesses:

WM. P. WEBB, E. M. TAYLOR. 

